Arts Council England has launched its first-ever public value inquiry, called the arts debate.

The investigation will explore how people value the arts, so that the sector can be accountable to public needs.

The inquiry will kick off with a series of discussion groups with members of the public across the country, including those with little or no involvement with the arts.

Key issues will include: a definition of the arts; accessibility and barriers to the sector; benefits to individuals and society; attitudes to funding and the role of the Arts Council; responsibilities of artists and arts organisations that receive public money; and expectations for the future.

The debate will then carry out research with artists, arts organisations and other Arts Council stakeholders.

Peter Hewitt, CEO of the Arts Council, said: “I believe that by giving the public a greater voice we can achieve a greater sense of accountability in the publicly funded arts sector, one that is meaningful to the council’s own ambitions, to the individuals and organisations we fund and to wider society.”

External advisor Dame Suzi Leather added: “This is a wonderful opportunity for people everywhere to join a fresh debate about the role of the arts in our lives. For too long this conversation has been the preserve of the expert few, and this important initiative will enable the Arts Council to understand and respond to a much wider range of opinions and experiences.”

The inquiry will close in May and findings will be published in the autumn, along with the Arts Council’s response and future plans. Details: www.artscouncil.org.uk